India's Light Combat Aircraft programme completes more than 800 flight tests
05 Mar 2008
New Delhi: The flight test programme of the Tejas, Light Combat Aircraft (LCA), is progressing as per schedule, according to information provided by India's defence minister, AK Antony, in a written reply to AP Shivajirao, KS Rao and RP Verma in the Lok Sabha.
So far, the LCA programme has completed 829 flight tests and efforts are being made to accelerate the number of such tests, he said.
He also mentioned that regular review meetings are being conducted by various concerned agencies, including the Defence Research and Development Organisation (DRDO), Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL), the Indian Air Force (IAF), which allow them to co-ordinate the LCA programme and arrive at decisions collectively.
According to the minister, no need is felt for to induct a strategic partner in the programme.
The chief of the air staff conducts a top-level review of the project once every quarter and the deputy chief of the air staff conducts a review once every month.
So far, Rs 4806.312-cr have been spent on the development of various versions of the Light Combat Aircraft.